Give It Back

by Danielle Esplin

This novel follows three characters: Lorraine, Lexy, and Ella.

Lorraine:
Not long ago, Lorraine lost her husband to another woman. She thought that was the worst thing that could happen to her, but soon she realizes it’s just the beginning of an everlasting nightmare.

Lexy:
Lexy, an au pair from London, moves to Seattle to help Lorraine with her infant son. But she didn’t come for the child…she came for something else.

Ella:
When Ella receives a call from her sister, Lorraine, who begs her to leave San Diego to spend time with her, she decides to take a few days off from work to visit her. Frightened to see how much Lorraine has weakened since her diagnosis eight months ago, she packs a bag and heads to Seattle with a foreboding feeling that this might be the last time she sees Lorraine.
But on her way to the airport, she learns that something shocking has happened since she last spoke with Lorraine and now. To make matters worse, once Ella arrives in Seattle, Lorraine's story keeps changing, making Ella question how reliable her sister really is.
Soon Ella is entangled in a mysterious investigation, and more so, in the lives of everyone involved. She realizes not only that she won’t go home anytime soon but also that she’ll never look at others the same way she did before.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Ebooks, Mystery Thriller, Crime

245 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 2, 2017

About the author

Danielle Esplin studied BSc Food Science with Chemistry at the University of Stellenbosch. She was one of the top students, and she got a full-ride scholarship. After years of sleepless nights, working in the laboratories and experimenting with new food products, she realized that something was missing.

And that was writing and the freedom to express herself as an artist.

Without telling anyone, she packed her bags in her apartment, waved her twin good-bye, trudged down the street on campus and got on a bus. When she crossed the border, entering Namibia, she switched on her phone and sent her mother a text : "I dropped out of University." She never looked back.

In Namibia, among the countless dunes that appeared like a half-closed girdle nestling the everlasting sea, her desire to write resurfaced. Danielle loves to travel, and she writes about her adventures on her blog exploringmyplanet.com.

Today she is an award-winning author who lives in Los Angeles. In her spare time she likes read or spend time with family and friends.

Website:
www.danielleesplin.com

Instagram:
instagram.com/danielleesplin/
instagram.com/danielle_esplin_books/

Twitter:
twitter.com/DanielleEsplin1

Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/OfficialDani...

Reviews

[Deanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

My reviews can also be seen at: https://deesradreadsandreviews.wordpr...

3.5 Stars

When I was contacted by Danielle Esplin, who generously offered to send me a copy of her debut novel in exchange for an honest review, I was quite happy. I already had the book on my "to be read" shelf and was really looking forward to reading it.

"Give it Back" follows the lives of three characters. Lorraine, Lexy, and Ella are all connected in some way and all of them have secrets.

The story begins as Lorraine's sister, Ella is getting ready to go see her. Lorraine is dealing with some serious medical issues and Ella knows she should be there for her sister and her two nephews.

Lorraine is divorced. She was devastated after her husband, Craig left her for Martha, his mistress. Now Martha lives with Craig in the beautiful home that Lorraine designed for HER family. Lorraine and Craig share custody of their sixteen year old son, Logan. Lorraine also has another child, a son with ex-boyfriend, Robert. However, Robert is not involved in his son's life at all. So life definitely hasn't been easy for Lorraine lately, and unfortunately things are about to get a whole lot worse.

Due to her health issues, and the fact that Sam is still a baby, Lorraine hires an Au pair from London named Lexy to help take care of Sam. At first, Lorraine thinks Lexy is a godsend. She helps out with the baby, Sam and even helps out with Lorraine's other son, Logan. However, becoming an Au pair isn't the only reason she came to Seattle. Lexy has secrets...many secrets.

Ella arrives in Seattle and has many questions for her sister. But Lorraine doesn't seem to be able to give Ella the answers she needs. When she does tell Ella something, she often changes her story later.

Now two people have gone missing, and the investigation is sure to bring some if not all of these secrets to light. Some of the people involved will stop at nothing to keep that from happening. Everyone has a lot to lose if their secrets come out.

I thought that "Give It Back" was quite an interesting book. The plot was compelling and I enjoyed the many twists and turns throughout the book. The point of view alternated between the three main characters. The dated chapters helped with keeping track. However, I did have to pay close attention to the time-frames. I found that I had to flip back and forth a bit as I wasn't always sure who was speaking and if it was the past or present. But for the most part it didn't interfere with my overall enjoyment of the book.

Now I'm not entirely sure how I feel about the ending. I'm not sure if I completely understand it....and maybe the author wanted it that way. Or maybe there is a book two that will answer some of the questions I have? I guess I will just have to wait and see!

"Give it Back" is a very good psychological suspense novel. A debut novel with a strong plot line and well-developed characters. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you, Danielle Esplin for sending me this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Chelsea Humphrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I guess we're all guilty at some point of failing to appreciate the small things, because when we use a broad brush to paint our exemplary lives, we splatter ourselves with ignorance."


What an exciting debut novel! I didn't read many reviews on this one before picking it up and I'm actually glad I didn't; the less you know going into it the better. The above jacket blurb does a great job summarizing the plot; the story is told with changing POV between the three above-mentioned characters. Each woman has something to hide and is slowly, deliberately revealed to the reader. All of the characters end up being pretty messed up (ok, except Wayne because he was so stinking precious!) but it worked for this story. Typically I don't like a story where I can't root for at lest ONE character but it was necessary here; all her characters are majorly flawed but extremely well-developed. I couldn't believe that this was her first novel. In addition to it being her first, the author's native tongue is Afrikaans meaning she wrote her first novel in her SECOND LANGUAGE. Super duper cool. I really wish I could say more but NO SPOILERS HERE!

FAVORITE QUOTE: "IT'S LIKE GETTING HONEY BOO BOO'S MUM TO FIT ON A TWISTER MAT
- IT JUST DOESN'T WORK."

I literally could not put this book down. I've had a cold this week, and I was so desperate to finish that I stuck wads of toilet paper up my nose so that I could read in a relatively hygienic environment. I'll make sure and include a picture next time. :) The pacing is right on point; everything is set up in present day and then we jump between past and present to unveil the mystery. I was hooked from beginning to end; my only slight disappointment was in the ending, but it was just my personal opinion of how I was wanting it to end and I'm sure is a plus for many other readers. Overall I was extremely impressed and am anxiously awaiting more from Danielle as she has clearly proven what a fine and talented writer she is!

The Full Blood Moon
"Kindled stars in our eyes,
pearly gates to our divine abode,
crepuscular rays radiate through our wide blue yonder.
As the cerulean-blue background dwindles, the full blood
moon beckons, and the fervor grows.

Paroxysm of pules as dusk rapidly falls.
The brevity of the Full Moon is daunting.
I hear the click of a crossbow, and a bolt whirred, coring the moon.
Death gestures toward an open grave.
Unorthodox, derelict quietus(es).

A kindled star in my eye,
locked gates to my divine abode,
tenebrous wild black yonder,
As the cerulean-blue background dwindles, the waning crescent wanes, and the
fervor grows."

[karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

here's the part where you shouldn't listen to me, because here is where i am having a medium reaction to a book everyone else is raving about.

maybe i have domestic/psych suspense burnout, because while this one has the kind of shape i usually dig, there were a lot of issues i had that kept pulling me out of the narrative to scratch my head, which makes for a bad reading experience.

so - good things first - i do like the way this is told: alternating short POV chapters with three - count 'em - three unreliable narrators to muddy the waters. i do so love unreliable narrators and muddy waters, and having so many really makes for a playful tug-of-war with the reader, who has no idea who to trust or what to believe or who is wearing the villain hat. keeping the reader off-balance is one of the most appealing elements in psych suspense, so i liked how twisty this one was.

having said that, and keeping in mind that i did like the book overall, it would be dishonest of me to be carried away by the rave reviews and not point out the little bibbits that bothered me.

some of the problems i had were with the language. regardless of whose narrative we were in, there was an inclination to choose the fanciest word for the task (i.e. eyes described as "arcane"), which made the sentences clunky and stiff, and the characters more formal than they should, given their backgrounds and general attitudes.

We were gross, filthy-minded kids trying to make each other laugh to an impractical extent. Lorraine was more reserved than I was, a habitual taciturn teenager, utterly reticent about her personal affairs, but as soon as she felt comfortable with you, she'd transform into a verbose storyteller.

the sentence makes sense, but it comes across as writerly rather than natural.

the problem is that poetical language is dissonant when it creeps into this genre. the short chapters and quickchange narrators and frequent twists speed up the pace and make you keep turning those pages to see what's next. when you throw in these five-dollar words, or are too heavy with the poetical hand: …he walks to the kitchen in a way that would enervate even an insomnia-prone adrenaline junkie, it slows the reader down and makes the pacing more languid, which is confusing to the reader. you can get away with it in a gothic-toned psych suspense, but it's just clashing here.

I barely closed an eye. With the sublime awe of mothers, I got up twice in the middle of the night to feed Sam.

and here

As simple as that, and it was as though I'd undergone an exuviation.

that's a perfectly appropriate word, but it's an unusual choice to be put in the mouth of this character when there are much more natural-sounding options.

there were other problems i had that were more systemic - like how a no fault divorce from a successful man would result in him getting to keep the house she designed, forcing her and their child to move and not having to pay any alimony, or in the way the police handled their investigation - posting an individual's inscrutable emo-journal-poetry in the newspaper and inviting readers to analyze it for clues, like it's some kind of homicide scavenger hunt. it's inauthentic.

also on the police side of things, when told that a forensic entomologist is being brought in to assist with the timeline of the murder, a character asks what that means and the response is:

"Entomology is the study of insects and their relationship to the environment, humans, and other organisms," he explains. "In this case, we deal with necrophagous feeding insects that typically infest human remains, and we need to repeat the procedure before we can narrow down the time frame of death." He falls silent for a moment. "Unfortunately this means blood spatter analysis could be affected. Roaches, fleas, and flies can produce tracking as they walk through splattered blood. Flies could possibly feed on *'s blood then pass partially digested blood in their feces, something known as flyspecks. These fecal droppings could be confusing, because they can be tested positive for human blood.

first of all - holy info-dump, but also - is that level of callous detail appropriate to divulge (in that didactic a tone) to the father of the deceased?? it seems a little unprofessional.

and i just don't understand these characters. when lorraine visits her ex-husband, to whom she was married for thirteen years and who is the father of her child, to tell him she has cancer, this transpires:

"It's apparently … quite fatal… this type of cancer," I say, but he doesn't even blink.

"Thanks for sharing," he says, and I find myself staring at nothing.

…

"Pleasure's mine," I say, and give him a faint smile.

"You tell me if you need anything," Craig says, and continues when he sees the confusion on my face. "For Logan." He falls silent for a moment. "I mean, if your cancer gets severe, and…if you're no longer around, I'll take good care of him."

i mean, i understand that some people are just dicks, but this seems like a disproportionately cold response. if they were recently divorced, or if she had done him wrong in the marriage, maybe, but nope - just a dick.

and, venturing into spoiler city: is a medically-advised abortion really that scandalous of a secret? hell, is even an elective abortion that scandalous in this day and age, for a regular girl who is not some right-wing public figure? i don't see how this is leverage, or how martha would have ascertained how lexy's guilt over it would cause her to get all squirrelly and obedient when a normal person would probably have been sad about the situation, but completely on board with following the advice of a doctor.

also, the ending is crazytown. what is even happening??? you can't end in the middle of THAT scene! (actually, i kind of dug how weird and ballsy it was to end it there. still have no clue what's going on, but knowledge is overrated)

it's by no means a bad book, and considering it's a self-published debut, without a helpful editorial team, it is immensely impressive. i'm certainly not trying to steer anyone away from it, because it is a satisfyingly twisty thriller that's a lot of fun to read, and three stars the way i handle my ratings indicates a positive response, but i'm just not feeling a five-star enthusiasm for it, and i needed to explain why.

but i told you not to listen to me.

come to my blog!

[Pearl Angeli · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars

Give It Back was a good psychological thriller book for me. It was ingeniously written and was constructed with a clever and mysterious plotline. However, there were some issues that made this book a less enjoyable read for me.

Give It Back's story centered on three women namely Lorraine, Lexy, and Ella. When Lexy and Lorraine's son went missing, Ella got to Seattle to help Lorraine solve the mystery behind. That time, Lorraine was also dying of brain cancer and everything was just so complicated and messed up. There were other characters that were involved in the case as Ella tried to dig deeper and uncover secrets alongside two detectives in the city.

In this book you can expect to find multiple POVS and numerous timelines that jump from past to present and then back again. I was okay with the multiple POVS. However, reading the back and forth timelines felt like a chore to me. At times it also made me feel confused and somewhat... lost.

The characters were interesting enough... especially Lexy. For me, she's the most intriguing heroine here. I found her so inscrutable-- like she's totally hiding all the secrets in every scheme. The plot was also unpredictable, though I admit when I got into the near-end parts I was already forming a clue. Still, it didn't fail to surprise me when the bomb dropped.

There were unnecessary scenes unfortunately, and they pushed everything into a slower pace which bored me. Nevertheless, the mystery factor was fairly good. It did strike me as particularly daring, so I liked it.

Despite my issues with the unnecessary scenes and slow pacing, the second half of the book was able to build up a decent finale. It was a hanging conclusion, but hey, this is psychological thriller. It's what we usually anticipate, right?

As a whole, Give It Back was a promising debut novel. Danielle Esplin is a storyteller that has so much potential. I hope she writes more books because this book was sure to be a good start!

(Thank you to the author Danielle Esplin for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!)

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish to thank Ms. Danielle Esplin for offering and sending me a beautiful paperback copy of her debut novel in exchange for an unbiased review.

Golly, the trouble people get themselves into! What a mess these characters created of their lives. This debut novel has a very cool cover, which in small print states, “unrequited love does not die.” Ain’t that the truth.

This tale of deceit is told from the POVs of three women. There is Ella, Ella’s terminally ill sister Lorraine, and Lorraine’s au pair Lexy. The timeline moves back and forth from the past (November 2014-June 2015) to the present (late June to late July 2015). The days are often divided up into morning, afternoon, and evening so that at times the book reads like a movie script. For the most part this works, though at times I felt the flow was interrupted by the shifting timeframe. There are multiple characters, many of whom I didn’t know whether to trust or not. The plot, already nicely complex, becomes even more complicated (a good thing) when these untrustables all started to interact with each other. I thought the characterization of the three narrators was good, but that of the other characters I found lacking—I wonder though whether that was actually intentional in order to keep readers guessing who were good guys and who were baddies.

Aided by short chapters, there is excellent pace to the story, along with a steady infusion of intrigue throughout the book. The ending is quite clever. Though the tale is wrapped up well, there is indication in the final pages that we are not yet done with this saga. I am definitely inclined to pick up Ms. Esplin’s second book when it comes out to see what happens next.

All in all, this book is highly entertaining and I recommend it to all fans of psychological suspense. Kudos to Ms. Esplin for a fine debut novel!

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of Give It Back for an honest review through the author, Danielle Esplin. Thank you for the opportunity to read your debut novel.

"It's like I'm on a roller coaster ride, but I'm not allowed to get off. I'm strapped to the seat, and within eyesight the unfinished twirl of the track swirls into the air."

A very telling description of Lorraine's current cancer diagnosis as well as the palor it impales in the lives of her sister, her exhusband, his current wife, her sons, and the au pair. This little ankle-to-ankle bound group surround themselves within the belly of lies, deceit, cruelties, and yes, even death.

Ella receives a desperate phone call from her sister, Lorraine, begging her to finally come. Ella has a difficult time "dealing" with anything that is not job related. She's single, shies away from relationships, and avoids the unpleasant. But prolonging the agony comes with a price. The minute Ella lands at the airport, her sister's cancer/lifestyle condition get ratcheted up into high gear. Just swimming along the peripheral is no longer an option. There's the well-being of Lorraine's baby, Sam, and her older, unsettled teenage son, Logan, to consider. Decisions have to be made as intensely as the beating of a hummingbird's wings.

The au pair, Lexy, seems to have a finger in everyone's pie. Watch as Lexy mystifies you with her machine gun style of living. Craig, the exhusband, doesn't know the word "responsibility" if it slammed into his face like a well-shot rubberband. Martha, his new wife, is a great piece of work. She knows how to aggravate any situation by her mere presence. Logan drifts in and out quietly leaving not many footprints. Until two of them go missing.......

Danielle Esplin presents a storyline in just how tangled lives can become when deception rolls in. It touches all who come near. The characters are well-drawn and there are many of them within the context of this story. Chapters are told in the voice of the main characters and their perspectives. The timeline of past/present becomes a bit of a mind-check throughout the story and can easily bog down the flow at times. Although, it does deem itself necessary in order to set up what follows and to give a pretense to shore up causal factors. The dialogue is extremely true to life. And there's lots of dicey banter between the characters.

Give It Back is remarkably well done as a debut novel. The heaviness of a cancer diagnosis within this convoluted family unit sets the stage for some rapid unraveling. Esplin knows how to get inside their heads......somewhere you may not want to actually be. I look forward to the next offering by Ms. Esplin.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many thanks to author Ms. Danielle Esplin for providing me with an ARC of her debut novel, “GIVE IT BACK” a psychological debut thriller, in exchange for an unbiased review. I can’t believe this is a debut novel…it is that good!

This novel follows three characters: Lorraine, Lexy, and Ella. Here's the synopsis of her debut novel:

Lorraine:

Not long ago, Lorraine lost her husband to another woman. She thought that was the worst thing that could happen to her, but soon she realizes it’s just the beginning of an everlasting nightmare.

Lexy:

Lexy, an au pair from London, moves to Seattle to help Lorraine with her infant son. But she didn’t come for the child…she came for something else.

Ella:

When Ella receives a call from her sister, Lorraine, who begs her to leave San Diego to spend time with her, she decides to take a few days off from work to visit her. Frightened to see how much Lorraine has weakened since her diagnosis eight months ago, she packs a bag and heads to Seattle with a foreboding feeling that this might be the last time she sees Lorraine.

But on her way to the airport, she learns that something shocking has happened since she last spoke with Lorraine and now. To make matters worse, once Ella arrives in Seattle, Lorraine’s story keeps changing, making Ella question how reliable her sister really is.

Soon Ella is entangled in a mysterious investigation, and more so, in the lives of everyone involved. She realizes not only that she won’t go home anytime soon but also that she’ll never look at others the same way she did before.

The story is told with alternating POV’s between the three characters. The flawed characters are all realistic and well fleshed out…but they all have something to hide. In time, everything is revealed to the reader. The pacing is right on. Be patient!

I can’t believe that this was her first novel. I was totally gripped by this debut novel, and while there was a mystery…I loved the family drama dynamics and how it played out. The ending was acceptable. I will definitely recommend this novel and this talented author to others, and know that this author has a bright future in front of her. An easy 4-Star rating from me!

[Didi · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 STARS

Going into this, I honestly didn't know what to expect aside from a suspenseful psychological thriller. As soon as I started, I couldn't put it down. It was quietly intense and gave me chills as the pages kept turning. The synopsis alone is good to go by, therefore I won't get into what this was about. The best thing about this book is learning what it's about!
We have 3 key players: Lorraine, Lexy and Ella. The book is told in their pov's--and don't worry, it's not confusing in the least--and switches between past and present so fluidly, it was wrought with tension.

Lorraine is a mother of two boys, Logan, 16 and Sam, a baby. Lexy is the au-pair from England who is now taking care of these boys and Lorraine. Ella is Lorraine's sister down from California to visit her. We know Lorraine is sick from the synopsis, we know that things aren't what they seem and we know a lot of crap is about to go down.

I loved this book, loved it. Up until the last chapter where I was left a little confused. It's left open ended almost, but maybe that depends on your point of view or your dark humour. For me, I could live with how it ended but I believe the book could have done without that last chapter...unless there's a second book. So my half star reflects that.
Aside from that, this was amazingly good. I had no problem connecting with the three main characters, as the book went on though, I really connected with Lexy and Ella. I had no idea who the culprit was until the author basically paved the way for the reveal. By then I was like, 'no way!'

This was very well written, extremely detailed in a good way, and left me speechless with the lack of holding back. This was real, not sugar-coated and I think I loved that. Several scenes were quite emotional, either making me furious, depressed, shocked or vengeful. The story played out in a way that slowly let the dread creep in. I was like, what the hell happened?! over and over. I won't say any more than this because suspenseful, psychological reads should be appreciated for their unrelenting punch. I love romance and though this dealt with relationships and love, it was very much a nail-biting suspenseful thrill ride, and I didn't care at all for the lack of romance.
Highly recommended for suspense and psychological thrill lovers, or anyone looking to shake up their usual reads, loved it.

"I think the saddest thing in the world is loving someone who used to love you or loving something you never really had."

* Arc provided by the author for review *

[Margitte · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a debut novel this book has all the elements of a perfect mystery. Although it contained all the elements thereof, it also introduced a different approach to the typical American suspense thriller. Nobody in the saga is perfect! That's the first bonus point for this book.

Three women's lives get entangled in Seattle, when the main character needs help from her somewhat estranged, self-centered sister. The nanny from London forms the third leg of the table laid with mysterious intent, hidden agendas and dark histories. A tangled web of unfinished emotional issues ensues, leaving a trail of broken lives behind. However, one of them will survive to pick up the pieces and continue ...

CHARACTERS: as introduced in the official blurp:

Lorraine:
Not long ago, Lorraine lost her husband to another woman. She thought that was the worst thing that could happen to her, but soon she realizes it’s just the beginning of an everlasting nightmare.

Lexy:
Lexy, an au pair from London, moves to Seattle to help Lorraine with her infant son. But she didn’t come for the child…she came for something else.

Ella:
When Ella receives a call from her sister, Lorraine, who begs her to leave San Diego to spend time with her, she decides to take a few days off from work to visit her ...

But on her way to the airport, she learns that something shocking has happened since she last spoke with Lorraine and now. To make matters worse, once Ella arrives in Seattle, Lorraine’s story keeps changing, making Ella question how reliable her sister really is ...

From the very first page a line of deceit and lies is drawn which leaves the reader sleepless and totally unwilling to put the book down. Trying to only read...well...just another chapter... did not help. Each chapter had a dramatic ending.... yes... it simply would not go away. The ending was mind blowing, yelling out for another fix, a follow up and hopefully soon! The suspense is unbearable!

Fast paced, short (dated) chapters; three protagonists telling their stories; strong story line; riveting reading.

Danielle Esplin started off on a high note with this novel and can become one of the greats of suspense thrillers. The proof is in the pudding! Excellent debut for this author!

RECOMMENDED for readers who enjoyed The Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins.

[Maxine (Booklover Catlady) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book entangles us in a story of deceit, lies, mistrust and cover-ups. For the entire reading of the book I got to the end of the chapter and told myself "just one more" but because each chapter ends on a mini-cliffhanger that did not work, I basically read it really quickly and was eager to pick it up. I love a book that engages my brain like that.

The majority of the story is told from alternating perspectives from three women who are key players in the plot and also across a timeline so you need to have your "pay attention antennae" up to follow the series of events and each person's journey within that timeframe. It is this way of writing the book that makes it such a great read as it entices and tempts you to keep wanting to leap forward to what happens next, what happens next, OMG I need to know what happens next!

Lorraine:

Not long ago, Lorraine lost her husband to another woman. She thought that was the worst thing that could happen to her, but soon she realizes it’s just the beginning of an everlasting nightmare.

Lexy:

Lexy, an au pair from London, moves to Seattle to help Lorraine with her infant son. But she didn’t come for the child…she came for something else.

Ella:

When Ella receives a call from her sister, Lorraine, who begs her to leave San Diego to spend time with her, she decides to take a few days off from work to visit her. Frightened to see how much Lorraine has weakened since her diagnosis eight months ago, she packs a bag and heads to Seattle with a foreboding feeling that this might be the last time she sees Lorraine.

But on her way to the airport, she learns that something shocking has happened since she last spoke with Lorraine and now. To make matters worse, once Ella arrives in Seattle, Lorraine’s story keeps changing, making Ella question how reliable her sister really is.

Soon Ella is entangled in a mysterious investigation, and more so, in the lives of everyone involved. She realizes not only that she won’t go home anytime soon but also that she’ll never look at others the same way she did before.

Each character has their own presence in the novel and very much their own place and role, there are also many other characters that come into play into this mystery thriller and all of them have question marks sitting over their heads. If you like to play armchair Detective you will love (and get frustrated) with this book. I found the book built up gradually in terms of pace and plot and by 40% in I was well and truly hooked and slightly obsessed on needing to know the truth. Heck, everyone in the book wants to know the truth, those that do know the truth don't really want others to know it however and it's an intricate and complicated dance that these strong characters do with each other.

I had guessed one specific thing early in the book and did a whoop! when it was revealed much later in the book and I had at least one thing right, the rest of it? Not a clue. But I had my moment of satisfaction. The book is emotional in places and certainly can stir up a lot of different emotions reading it, very much a book you need to lock down with and engage with until you emerge out of the other side then sit back with a stiff drink to take it all in. The ending really stunned me, I did not see that coming and have a load of questions for the author about that (which she may never tell). There are some stunning surprises that get delivered your way when reading!

This is a debut novel but you would not think so. It's well written and has everything going for it that a good book should. I can easily seeing this book making a fantastic movie with some strong female leads and think it should get pitched to the movie moguls. If you are looking for a strong book to read that will keep your head engaged and have you on edge with the truth just out of reach until all is revealed then grab yourself a copy of Give It Back by Danielle Esplin. 5*!

A huge thanks to Danielle for sending me a copy of her novel in exchange for an honest review.

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[☮Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book club read #8. 2.5 stars

What just happened? I was reading a pretty interesting mystery with three unreliable narrators, trying to decide who was telling the truth and which character to hate the most (that was easy). Occasionally (often, really) I had to stop short to question some of the author's word choices. But still, thinking it could be a 4 star read.

Then the ending veered off into craziness and the unlikelihood that readers would buy all of what's taking place. There is a lot revealed at the end and some of it defies logic and set my eyes a-rolling, literally. I can't be specific without being spoilerish too, so leave it at that. I just hope my book club doesn't hold this one against me.

[Nelou Keramati · Rating 5 out of 5]

Danielle Esplin's 'Give it Back' is quite possibly one of the most gripping novels I have ever read. It is rare for me to connect to all primary, secondary, even tertiary characters. I wish I could talk about them. Quote them. Boast about their mannerisms and quirks. But everything is so inextricably linked that I don't want to risk giving any clues away for those eager to decipher the enigma themselves.

Suffice it to say, the writing is smooth, smart, and highly evocative. It pulls you inside the characters' minds, and then takes a jackhammer to your heart. But it isn't a contrived attempt at manufacturing tears. It's authentic. That is probably what I loved the most about this story. Every single thought, action, and emotion feels unfathomably raw and genuine. So much so, that I felt the debilitating helplessness, the numbing hopelessness, the gut-wrenching pain, and nodded decidedly at the character's decisions.

The narrative is broken up into three perspectives: Ella, Lorraine, and Lexy. It is immediately established that these characters are linked, but the nature and depth of the connections remains a mystery until the very end. The switch between perspectives was refreshing, and yet it did not disrupt the flow of the story. To me, it was akin to putting your cup of coffee down in order to take another bite from your dessert. And once done, it was a full 'experience'.

This story is about love in all its forms, and all the different ways its loss can cripple someone. How it can leave scars too deep to cover up. How it can gnaw away at your self-worth. How it can pull a filter over your eyes, and blur the boundaries between right and wrong.

This book sent my heart to a gallop every other chapter, shocked me at every turn, and thrilled me every time a piece of the puzzle was put in place. And I lost a lot of sleep because I simply couldn't put it down, but as I groggily write this review, the smile on my face says it was well worth it. Despite having an eye for detail, and having watched countless crime dramas (The Killing, Dexter, Sherlock, to name a few of my favorites), I was guessing until the very end. I think the author is exceptionally talented and has a very bright writing career ahead. I for one cannot wait for her next novel, and want to thank her for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I highly recommend this book to anyone. It's dark and gritty, but boy, is it brilliant!

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was approached to read this debut novel by Danielle Esplin in return for a honest review I didn't really know what to expect. Another budding author trying to make it in this difficult business but having started the novel I was instantly hooked and read and read at every available second.
The novel is set around three women and the story alternates between each of them giving their own perspective. It is difficult to give an outline of the story without giving too much away but take my word for it the plot will have you guessing all the way through to the very end.
It is difficult enough to believe this is the authors debut novel but when you learn that it is written in her second language it will surprise you even more.. The book is so well written, a story full of plot twists, strong characters and lots and lots of suspense.
A great start to this new authors career and I am sure the name Danielle Esplin will become very familiar in the very near future.

https://worcestersource.wordpress.com...

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wanted to like this book but found it to slow.just wasn't my type of book.never gave a low rating in along time but got to be honest.

[Zuky the BookBum · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this novel as my BookBum Club book for May!

Unfortunately, like many books I’ve read this year, this novel simply turned into another average throwaway thriller. It started off exciting, with a host of mysterious characters but the further we went through the novel, there became too many branches off the main plot that became convoluted and ultimately let the end of the story down.

What I did like about this novel were the clearly defined characters. Each was well developed and the use of alternating chapters from the POV’s of Lorraine, Lexy, and Ella really gave us an insight into their thoughts and feelings. However, I didn’t particularly like any of them as characters, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. With Lorraine, obviously there was sympathy there as she was plagued with various brain tumours, but sympathy does not equal respect or likability. I found her petty and irritating. Lexy was more likeable as a character, but her self-awareness of her beauty got on my nerves. Lastly, Ella was probably my favourite and the reasons for not liking her were down to the author trying to make the different tones of voices obvious (which worked but was irritating!)

The writing isn’t amazing, but it kept me reading and the short chapters make for quick reading. The story moved swiftly, and this was one of those “just one more chapter” books. While I liked the writing, at times there were moments that felt were added just for the shock factor, like a couple of sex scene sprinkled here and there; “my lipstick smudged by the post-cock throat thrust”.

As for the story, like I said above, it started off really well and I was excited to see where Esplin was taking it. The fact that there were several characters connected to the plot made it difficult to guess what secrets they were all hiding. Unfortunately, I felt that the middle of the story dragged a little bit and we began being taken down avenues that weren’t necessary for moving the story along. While Esplin does a decent job at tying up loose ends for all these stories, it would have been an easier read without them and they were definitely only added with the aim of making the end harder to guess.

I did have my suspicions as to who the bad guy was, and I was right, but I wasn’t so sure of the why. I was pretty pumped to read the reveal and get the characters motives, but it was a bit of a let-down. The vast amount of storylines that needed to be cleared up at the end became too much and the story got silly.

Honestly, for a debut in the author’s second language, this was pretty good. I’d pick up another novel by her, just hopefully one with fewer storylines throughout! This is a good summer beach read.

[Farah · Rating 5 out of 5]

*The author of this book sent me this paperback copy in exchange for an honest review, so don’t expect anything less than that. I will always give an honest review, be it a positive one or a negative one.*

Holy Shit. What did I just read?!?

This book has officially taken the lead for my fave book of 2016 (so far). I’m not even sure I can form a coherent review, but I’m going to do my best.

Give It Back is the kind of compelling “I must know WTF is going on” book that makes you forget about everything else you had to do that day. You step into this world – this absolute mind fuck of a world that will tug at both your heart strings and your brain cells – and you don’t want to come out until you know how it ends. Real life? Who cares? Shit is going down and I need answers!

It’s mind-bending and exciting. I felt connected to the book on a personal level because I shared Ella’s life and her fear after what happened to her sister and nephew. So it was emotionally engaging. But it was also thought-provoking. I could feel my eyes getting wider as I read further into the story. And Lexy?? ughh at first I loved her character but now? I hate her guts! I’m so happy about what happened to her B-)

“I guess we’re all guilty at some point of failing to appreciate the small things, because when we use a broad brush to paint our exemplary lives, we splatter ourselves with ignorance.”

You really can’t review this book without without giving them away. My friends and I were talking about it last night, it feels like they weren’t even sure where the story was going. But you better hang on because it’s always a bumpy ride, like this ending??? like WHAT DO YOU MEAN? *sigh* okay I’m calm now…

The sort of “twist” in the plot is the perfect kind. One of those that I really should have seen coming – it was so obvious! – and yet I didn’t. At all.

“Have you ever loved someone so much that even when they chip pieces away from you, you still try to give them what’s left? I know I have… I know I do.”

5/5 stars.This novel clearly deserves all the praise it’s been receiving and I’m still blown away by this novel. It’s how the author created a masterpiece. One of my favorite books of all time. Can’t wait to read more books by this amazing author! I really hope she writes another part of the book!!

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

First that I have read by this author but if this one is any indication of her writing, then I will certainly be on the lookout for more. If you are the type of reader that likes everything laid out smoothly then you are going to be pulling your hair out by the third of fourth chapter. The book is a bit like a runaway roller coaster ride. It's filled with twists, turns, bumps and hiccups, but it lost a star because of the ending which seemed unbelievable based on the events that had taken place previously. I don't usually remember or pay much attention to lines that make up a story past the time that the cover is closed but I love this line enough to write it down and include it in the review...because it not only spoke to me personally but set the tone for the characters in the book. “Have you ever loved someone so much that even when they chip pieces away from you, you still try to give them what's left? I know I have … I know I do”.

[Monnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wild ride! My actual rating is 4.5 stars, in fact - and for a debut novel, it sure is impressive. My thanks to the author for providing me with a copy in exchange for a review.

The story begins as Ella leaves her home in San Diego to visit her sister, Lorraine, who is dealing with a serious illness. Lorraine, whose former husband Craig left her to marry Martha, the woman with whom he had an affair while married, also has help from Lexy, an au pair originally from London. Lorraine also has a teenage son, Logan - who stays with her and regularly visits his father, Craig. There's also an infant son, Sam; the father is someone with whom Lorraine had a fling after her marriage fell apart and who has little interest in being in his son's life.

Almost the second Ella arrives, things start to get a bit crazy - most notably as Lexy and Logan suddenly do a disappearing act. A police investigation ensues, Lorraine's condition makes a steep downhill turn both physically and mentally and suddenly everyone's behavior comes into question. More than that I won't reveal, except to say that chapters alternate among the main characters - as well as time period - with each adding background clues that show how what happened then impacts what's happening now. The author uses that technique to good advantage, but I admit it was a little tough for me to keep straight; I was so engrossed in the story that I kept forgetting to check the date and time on each chapter before plunging ahead. There are twists and turns (some I expected, others I did not), and the ending leaves the whole thing more than a little bit open to interpretation.

There were a few inconsistencies that bothered me a bit - such as text messages that were deleted but easily retrieved and responded to in one instance but apparently deleted and lost forever in another - hence my decision to round down to 4 stars instead of up to 5 for reviews on websites that do not allow half-stars. That said, this is an outstanding work that I recommend without hesitation. If this is any example, the author has a promising future as a novelist ahead of her. I just hope when she finishes the next one she'll give me the opportunity to read it, too!

[Lynn Mccarthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Danielle Esplin for giving me a copy to review.

The book follows three women Lexy,Lorraine and Ella and is told from alternating perspectives from these three.
Lexy is Lorraine's au pair and Lorraine is very ill.Ella gets a call from her sister Lorraine to please come and spend some time with her plus Lorraine not so long ago lost her husband to another women.
I liked the pace to the story and the ending was clever.
There is also mystery to this book as well.
A great debut and Author to watch.

[Namita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Give it back by Danielle Esplin was such a great read .I went into the book not expecting anything and it was a pleasant surprise . The book is very well written and it's difficult to believe it's a debut book by Danielle
Without revealing much about the book, it is written with the point of view of three people ,Lorraine the mom , Lexy the Au pair , and Ella Lorraine's sister . The book goes back and forth between the characters POV and between past and present but manages not to confuse the audience at all . It's easy to follow and left me guessing what happens next .
Two people disappear in the book and you don't know what has happened to them . So you follow the POV of the three people trying to find out if a crime has been committed or the disappearance is voluntary .
The characters were well portrayed and even if you don't like some of them ,you can feel the inner struggles everyone is going through . The suspense was great and a complete surprise .
Overall I would give this book 41/2 stars just because of the ending . I was left hanging and I hope there is a sequel for this book
I would definitely recommend this book and cannot wait to read more by Danielle Esplin

[Bandit · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yet another one. Female centric female authored suspense thriller. Like that bandwagon needs additional passengers. With stratospheric popularity, it probably is immensely tempting to jump in on the action, but it may not always be advisable. Since advice is seldom listened to, this particular fiction genus continues to attracts wannabes and mediocrities, of which sadly this is one. With that said, this isn’t a terrible book, it tries very diligently and it checks a lot of genre boxes, almost as if deliberately. So it’s a mix and match of clichés…triple female perspective ala Girl on the Train, split time narratives, naughty au pair, intricately entangled relationships, present time narrative and so on and on and on. But, and this is possibly due to this being a debut, this all ends up oftentimes overdone. The narrative is present time to maximize the intimacy and immediacy, sure, but it’s also time split between two different years and times of the day. The relationships are complex, sure, but in this case near convolutedly so, centering on the British au pair (and why hire a hot au pair anyway, just seems like a terrible idea) who is as emotionally messed up as she is sexually promiscuous as she is incompetent about birth control. The suspense is primarily related to the au pair and a 16 year old son of the family disappearing. That’s interesting enough, but the narrative drags it out nearly minute by minute, in small chapters that alternate with chaotic frequency, until it all just becomes too tedious to juggle. And the denouement is positively hysterical. The writing itself is quite serviceable throughout, with glaring exception of an occasional bizarrely misplaced vocabulary word. It’s like suddenly the Word program would just take over and use the least appropriate most obscure synonym. Very odd. But it was readable and entertaining enough and I was considering being more generous depending on the genre prerequisite ending twist, hoping for something clever, but the author went the opposite direction and the finale was just laughably trite. So that’s what it was. A kindle freebie with some promise that got mangled (however well intentionally) during execution. Not terrible, but not really worth the time, not with all the similar and superior thrillers out there. And longer than it should have been.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Ella reluctantly headed to Seattle to see and help her terminally ill sister Lorraine, she had no idea what she would become embroiled in. Unaware exactly how unwell Lorraine was (unwilling and unable to accept the diagnosis) Ella was dreadfully shocked when she arrived to find her in hospital. Baby Sam, only a few months old, was being cared for by the au pair Lexy who Lorraine had employed after Sam was born. But Lexy had another agenda…

Logan, Lorraine’s sixteen year old son by her ex-husband Craig lived between the two homes – Craig’s new wife Martha was someone Lorraine obviously disliked, but Ella had yet to form an opinion. She knew she disliked Craig for what he’d done to her beloved sister. And Robert, Sam’s father – she would say no more about him!

The suddenness of the mysterious disappearance of two members of the circle of people involved in the trauma of Lorraine’s life sent shockwaves throughout Ella – the police were immediately on the case with their suspicions falling on everyone, even Lorraine in hospital. But the depth of the secrets and lies; the horror of the deception which weaved its tentacles through the group left the police with many suspects but no evidence. Who was the evil perpetrator of the depravity that had and was happening? Were Ella’s suspicions correct? Or did she have it so wrong that she herself was in danger?

Give it Back by Danielle Esplin is her debut novel and is a gripping and intense psychological thriller. Narrated in three voices; Ella, Lexy and Lorraine, it goes back and forth between current day and a few months prior. I did find it a little choppy and disjointed at times, and found I had to take particular note of the time frame at the beginning of each chapter, but once I did that the story flowed well. Even though I had worked out “whodunit” I still enjoyed the resolution of the story and the way the author brought it to a close. I have no hesitation in highly recommending Give it Back to fans of the genre.

With thanks to the author for this copy to read in exchange for my honest review.

[Maha · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s always when paths collide that our perception of people and life becomes clearer. And just like at a crossroad, the lives of Ella, Lorraine and Lexy intersect.
Give It Back is one of those books that catches your interest once you read the blurb. Something about the cover of this book was mysterious to me…revealing nothing. And with the blurb talking about 3 intersecting lives… Well that did it for me. I didn’t read too many reviews. I was rather intrigued to dive into the book and find out for myself.
Ella is leaving her glamorous successful life for few days. Sensing the trouble in her sister’s voice, she’s finally going to see her sister Lorraine. Lorraine is suffering a serious medical condition. Ella, caught up in her busy life and living in a different city, had been reluctant before to take this trip. However, now after sensing the despair in Lorraine’s voice she feels so guilty.
Lorraine’s life had been so tough. After two divorces, Lorraine is now a single mum raising two kids. And to top all that, she’s now seriously ill. She had hired Lexy as an Au Pair to help her out.
Even before Ella arrives, the shocking news strike. Something terrible had happened. Once Ella arrives, she’s caught up in the entangled web. Two people are now missing. Ella is desperate to know what happened but the stories keep changing. Something is off.
Wow... Who can believe this is Danielle’s first book?! She’s such a talented writer. I couldn’t put this book down. Lots of twists and turns. So many secrets. The story is narrated by the three heroines, Ella, Lorraine and Lexy. Seeing things from each woman’s perspective added more layers to the story.
Give it back was so deliciously suspenseful. Such an excellent work from a very promising author. A highly recommended read for mystery lovers.

**Special thanks to the author Danielle Esplin for supplying my copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. **

For all my reviews please visit http://www.meshascorner.net

[Zoey 💫🛋️📚☕️🫖💫 · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this because the reviews were good. I don't know what they were reading, because this book was ridiculous. I kept reading it, thinking it would have a shocking ending. It didn't. I couldn't have cared less about any of the characters, and that's never good. Truly a waste of time.

[Stephen Clynes · Rating 2 out of 5]

Give It Back is a debut novel focused on the story of three women, Ella and her elder sister Lorraine, who employs an au pair called Lexy. Slowly Ella gets to the bottom of the mystery surrounding the disappearance of Lexy and Lorraine’s son called Logan. The story is set in Seattle although Lexy comes from London.

I found Give It Back to be a frustrating read as the time frame keeps switching backwards and forwards. Each chapter is from the point of view of either Ella, Lorraine or Lexy and I quickly became confused. This was not helped by some chapters detailing things that that in later chapters had not happened yet. In the early pages it was very easy to get Ella and Lexy mixed up as their names at a quick glance can be mistaken and the author’s voice sounded the same for both characters. In a character-driven novel it is important to have strongly different voices for each character.

I thought the plot was poor, which led to further frustration. Give It Back became quite a jumble for me as there were no clear story lines. It was like trying to recall conversations after a drunken night out with a large group of friends.

At the end of the book, the title Give It Back comes into play. This was a disappointment but dwarfed by the very end, which was simply daft. I was left with a strong feeling of just what was going through the author’s head that made Danielle tell her story in this way. This mystery could have been told from very different angles so that it developed with a linear time-frame and engaged the reader with eclectic characters rather than these samey women.

Making allowances for Give It Back being a debut novel, I still think this is a POOR read and just gets 2 stars from me.

Give It Back was written in 2017 and is available as an Amazon Kindle eBook.

[Aline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had my eyes on this book for a while. I really like mystery and this book falls into this category.
To be very honest, the first 25 percent of the book is really slow, but after that the book picks a steady pace and I didn't want to stop reading it. The mystery is good, but it had me suspicious of one specific character the entire time. Although I was right on cue with the character, Danielle Esplin still managed to write a compelling and mysterious story. Even though that said character was easy to guess, the motive was something that only became clear as I turned the pages.  
I liked the vocabulary used but sometimes it felt like it didn't belong with the style of the book. I think the characters were very well developed, each with their own unique characteristics. The plot was interesting and intriguing, but after 80 percent the pace suddenly became too fast, and the mystery was solved all at once.
I think the twist was good, even though not all of them were that surprising, it still made a good plot.
The end let me down a bit, not because of how the story is concluded, but because the writer left a hint of a sequel, and I didn't think it was necessary. There was no reason to leave readers questioning what happens after the mystery is solved even if there were to be a sequel.  

Overall 4 stars.

[Chanelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whether you want to discover your new favourite author or devour a new psychological thriller: Give it Back will definitely NOT disappoint! I received an advance copy of Give it Back in exchange for an honest review.

Danielle Esplin, born in South Africa, lives in Seattle with her husband. She is currently following her passion and clearly has a lot to offer.

"Give it Back' is her debut novel and I am amazed that she wrote such a believable, captivating, heartfelt, intense and intriguing debut.

Give it back follows the journey of Lorraine (an unreliable character with heartbreaking circumstances), Ella (a tough, witty, straightforward & intelligent character) and Lexy (an impulsive & unpredictable character). You are completely immersed inside the minds of the three main characters, living the story with them. All three characters are well-rounded and believable. I loved and adored some of the characters, and hated some too. Each character has their own distinctive voice. The book jumps between the present and past, and I have to admit - I didn't need to go back once to make sure whose POV I was reading.

After I read the book, I thought about the story-line:
Was it unpredictable?
Was it well-researched and well written?
Was it original?
Does the plot twist and turn?
Did I want to keep reading because I was curious to see what will happen next?
Does the book address universal themes?
Is the dialogue realistic/natural?
Did the characters feel real?
Did I think about certain things regarding my own personal life after reading the book?
Was it fast-paced with a good balance in terms of dialogue, narrative, and exposition throughout the book?
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes and yes!

Kudos for the author being able to make the reader feel attached or close to certain characters and unique situations. Every situation in every scene felt genuine and realistic. At times I found myself putting the book down after a chapter or paragraph, staring at the wall, cringing, and then feeling uncomfortable at how real every bit of it felt.

I believe that readers aged 16+ will be hooked on this entertaining, suspenseful novel.

I can't wait for what Danielle has up her sleeve in the future. I highly recommend this book to readers who love unpredictable, mysterious and captivating story-lines and characters.

Well done! This is an exceptional debut novel that I think very few writers would have been able to pull off.

[Eileen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this as a Good Reads First Read. I started reading this book and found the plot interesting. However I will not finish the book once the writer inserted explicit sexual detail into the book. The detail was unnecessary and I will not finish the book nor recommend it to people I know.

[Kristyn - Reading to Unwind · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love books that keep the suspense throughout the whole book. I was not 100% sure what happened to Lorraine's son and also Lexy until the very end of the book. The ending is also a WOW I did not see that coming at all and it keeps the suspense going. This is a hard review to write because I don't want to give any spoilers and that will be very challenging.

I loved the layout of the book. The chapters would go in between the characters and also in between past and present. It really helped to create a full picture for the reader because Ella was trying to piece everything together and by going into Lorraine and Lexy's past we could piece the story together as the reader. I could see how this can be overwhelming while reading, but paying attention to the name and the date helped to figure out what time it was in the book. I loved that we also got to see Lorraine and Lexy's perspectives of different situations. We also got to see Lorraine's deterioration from her disease, which just made the story more like is Lorraine telling the truth.

I loved how the author did the character development. Lorraine we can see her disease start to take over her life and her lose the ability to know what was real and made up in her brain. Also, we got to see Lorraine's tumor change her personality via Lexy's chapters. Lexy we learn a lot about in bits and pieces, we know their is some guy in her life that made her move here, but we don't know the full story and the true Lexy to the way end of the book. Ella seems thrown into this whole situation where she has no idea what is going on and who she can actually trust. Ella is the one who needs to piece everything together in the end.

When someone goes through a tragic event in their life I feel like they always look back into the past to see what they could have done better. I love that Ella keeps looking back at what she could have done better in her life and in the end decides to improve upon what she didn't like. There are some things you can't take back with time and people do live with regrets.
This is a easy book to read. The chapters are nicely split up by character so it is easy to read. I think this is a good weekend or vacation read. There are portions that you are not going to want to stop reading because you need to know what is going to happen next. I am pretty sure I binge read the last few pages standing in my kitchen half making dinner and half reading.

I was received a copy of this book from the author for the purpose of providing an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

[Kath Lau · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started Give It Back without any expectations (which I think is fair because this is a debut novel) and I'm so happy that I ended up loving it.

The story begins as Elle decides to finally visit her terminally ill sister, Lorraine, in Seattle. On her way to the airport, she receives a call from a nurse saying that her sister is in a hospital because of an accident. Elle was surprised especially when she finds out that Lorraine's 16-year-old son and the au pair were not at home with her during the accident. Where were they? What happened to Lorraine?

I don't want to spoil a lot so I'll stop there. This book got me hooked from the very first page up until the last.

The book was written from three different POVs in a shifting timeframe. Elle's POV is from the present while most of Lorraine's and Lexy's are in the past (couple of months to be exact). Sounds a little confusing? Yes! But the author did an amazing job on this part. The transition was smooth and each character has their own unique voice. And because of the strong element of suspense in every chapter, you'll find yourself constantly saying "just one more chapter" without noticing that you've already reach the end.

I personally like the author's style of writing. The character's emotions, their actions and thoughts felt so real. Even their dialogues including the f words. There were some emotional scenes and I found myself a bit teary eyed and worried for some of the characters (like Sam).

There was one thing that I had guessed correctly (because it's a little predictable I think) but the rest of it, I had no idea. The author did a great job on adding the right amount of mystery in every chapter. The twists were clever and nicely done. They were "WOW" moment for me because I didn't see them coming.

Why I gave 4 instead of 5 stars? It's because of the ending! Don't get me wrong. I thought it was clever and absolutely creepy that it even gave me goosebumps while reading it but it's like "What the fudge?". It left me with so many questions. I want to ask the author but on the other hand, I'm thinking that she wrote the ending like that for a reason. I hope not because she's planning a sequel. I'm totally okay with this book as a stand-alone.

Overall, I absolutely enjoyed reading Give It Back and I was very impressed. This is such a great debut! If you're looking for a fast-paced, entertaining and gripping psycho-thriller novel, then this book is perfect for you.
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*A huge thanks to Ms. Danielle Esplin for sending a copy of her novel in exchange for an honest review.